You’re looking at a charming early 20th-century real photo postcard taken at one of Colorado’s most iconic natural landmarks—Balanced Rock, located in the stunning Garden of the Gods park just outside Colorado Springs. This novelty photograph captures a group of five women posing proudly on donkeys in front of the massive, gravity-defying sandstone formation. The photograph radiates the playful spirit of early Western tourism. Five women sit astride small donkeys, all lined up neatly in front of the looming shadow of Balanced Rock. Their expressions vary from reserved amusement to open cheerfulness, suggesting they are enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience in the American West. Each woman wears a wide-brimmed sombrero-style hat, likely provided by the concession for a touch of “Wild West” flair. Their clothing is modest but stylish for the era—ankle-length skirts, blouses with sailor collars or lace trim, and fitted jackets give them a slightly adventurous, yet feminine look appropriate for tourists of the 1910s or early 1920s. Despite riding donkeys—often considered humble beasts of burden—the women’s confident postures and bemused smiles give the impression that they’re enjoying their frontier fantasy. Their donkeys stand calmly, reins held loosely in the women’s hands, adding to the relaxed, posed nature of the scene. The back of the card identifies the photographer as Paul Goerke & Son, who operated a thriving photography business in Manitou, Colorado. This firm set up a concession at Balanced Rock, one of the most photographed natural features in the West. Tourists could ride donkeys or burros up to the site, don hats, and pose for a souvenir photograph, which Goerke’s team would develop and print on postcard stock. (SOLD)
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 